Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFBRI1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFBRI1’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; relatively rapid growth rate; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems with numerous inflorescences; and large decorative-type inflorescences with white-colored ray florets.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFBRI1’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Provisional application Ser. No. 62/761,600

Filed: Mar. 30, 2018

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum X morifolium, commercially grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFBRI1’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-flowering cut Chrysanthemum plants with attractive inflorescences, strong flowering stems and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination on Mar. 19, 2015 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number DB 21697 as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number DB 26704 as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Oct. 9, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings since Oct. 9, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFBRI1’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFBRI1’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit.     -   2. Relatively rapid growth rate.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Strong upright flowering stems with numerous inflorescences.     -   6. Large decorative-type inflorescences with white-colored ray         florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower five days earlier than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are twisting         whereas ray florets of plants of the female parent selection are         slightly incurved.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are twisting         whereas ray florets of plants of the male parent selection are         straight and not twisting.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Delibaltica’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘Delibaltica’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have smaller inflorescences         than plants of ‘Delibaltica’.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower five days earlier than         plants of ‘Delibaltica’.     -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are twisting         whereas ray florets of plants of ‘Delibaltica’ are straight and         not twisting.     -   4. Developing ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are         white in color whereas developing ray florets of plants of         ‘Delibaltica’ are green in color.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Zembla’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,052. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘Zembla’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences         than plants of ‘Zembla’.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower five days earlier than         plants of ‘Zembla’.     -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are twisting         whereas ray florets of plants of ‘Zembla’ are slightly incurved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Chrysanthemum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFBRI1’ grown as a spray-type.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises close-up views of the lower (top of the photographic sheet) and upper surfaces (bottom of the photographic sheet) of typical inflorescences and leaves of ‘DLFBRI1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem plants and were ten weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFBRI1’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code designation DB             21697, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code designation DB             26704, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve             days at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About two             weeks at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut             flower that is typically grown as a single stem spray-type;             upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth             rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 76.2             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 83 cm.         -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 19.2 cm.         -   Flowering stem length.—About 75.6 cm.         -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 6.5 mm.         -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 3 cm.         -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 144A, at the             internodes, close to 146B.         -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 146B and 147C to             147D.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 12.8 cm. Width: About 8.2 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:             Short apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed,             coarsely crenate; sinuses convergent and medium to deep in             depth. Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately             pubescent, not rugose; moderately velvety; very slightly             glossy. Texture and luster, upper surface: Densely             pubescent, prominent venation; slightly velvety; matte.             Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing             leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker than 143A. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully developed             leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A; venation, close to             146B. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;             venation, close to 147C to 147D. Petioles: Length: About             1.6 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 4.5 mm. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface:             Close to 147C; edges, close to NN137B. Color, lower surface:             Close to 147C; edges, close to 147B. Stipules: Quantity and             appearance: Two leafy stipules, opposite, at the petiole             attachment to the stem. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About             7 mm. Shape: Flabellate. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Moderately pubescent; very slightly glossy. Texture and             luster, lower surface: Densely pubescent; matte. Color,             upper surface: Close to NN137A. Color, lower surface: Close             to 147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with             oblanceolate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets             (disc florets are inconspicuous); inflorescences borne             perpendicular to peduncles and face mostly upright to             slightly outwardly; ray and disc florets develop acropetally             on a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             47 days later when grown as a spray-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; in             an interior environment, inflorescences and foliage will             maintain good color and substance for about two weeks;             inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit; when             grown as a spray-type, about 20 inflorescences develop per             flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 10.5 cm. Depth (height):             About 3.8 cm. Disc diameter: About 4 mm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 148D.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About             1.4 cm. Shape: Globular. Texture and luster: Distally,             smooth and glabrous; proximally, sparsely pubescent; very             slightly glossy. Color: Distally, close to 157D (immature             ray florets); proximally, close to 143A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 150 arranged in             about six whorls. Length: About 5.1 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm.             Shape: Oblanceolate; twisting, slightly carinate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate.             Aspect: Initially upright to about 80° from vertical.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; slightly             glossy. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces:             Initially, close to 157D, then close to NN155D. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D; venation,             close to NN155D; color does not change with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About ten spirally             arranged in two or three whorls at the center of the             receptacle; disc florets inconspicuous. Length: About 7 mm.             Diameter: About 1.75 mm. Shape: Lower 67% fused into a tube;             upper 33% free. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and outer             surfaces: Apex: Close to N144B. Mid-section: Close to 14C.             Base: Close to 145C to 145D. Color, fully opened, inner and             outer surfaces: Apex: Close to 2B. Mid-section: Close to 14C             to 14D. Base: Close to 145C to 145D.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 28             arranged in three whorls. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About             4 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely             pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to             144A; margins, translucent, and close to 157D; apices, close             to N199A. Color, lower surface: Close to 137A to 137B;             margins, translucent, close to 157D; apices, close to N199A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 3.2 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 3.5 mm. Length, third             peduncle: About 4.3 cm. Diameter, terminal peduncle: About             3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Mostly             upright. Aspect, third peduncle: About 40° from the             flowering stem axis. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent;             matte. Color: Close to between 144A and 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:             About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 150C. Anther size:             About 0.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther             color: Close to 13A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 17B. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc             florets. Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About             5.5 mm. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color: Close to             N144B. Stigma diameter: About 1.5 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft,             decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 2B. Ovary color: Close to             145B to 145C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     been observed to be resistant to Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium     oxysporum f. sp. chrysanthemi). To date, resistance to pests and     other pathogens common to Chrysanthemum plants has not been observed     on plants of the new Chrysanthemum grown under commercial     conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFBRI1’ as illustrated and described. 